Combustion toilet

ABSTRACT

Excreta is deposited into a pivotally suspended receptacle through an aligned opening. The opening in the receptacle is covered upon angular advancement of a receptacle carrier to an incinerating position in response to closing of the cover lid on the toilet cabinet enclosing the carrier. Combustion products are conducted through an exhaust opening at one axial end of the receptacle to a flue extending upwardly from the cabinet. After incineration, the receptacle is advanced with the carrier to a cooling position.

United States Patent [151 3,683,425 Patterson [4 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] COMBUSTION TOILET 3,458,873 8/ l 969 Nordstedt et al. ..4/ l 31 72 l t be P tt P.O. B 210 6, 1 men or f i g s g 2 Primary Exammer--Freder1ck L. Matteson Assistant ExaminerHenry K. Artis [22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1970 Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures [52 US. Cl ..4/131, 110/9 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47k ll/02 [58] Field of Search ..4/13l, 118, 132; 110/8, 8 C, 110/9, 9 E

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,624,843 12/1971 Andrus ..4/ 131 3,110,037 11/1963 Frick et a1. ..4/131 1,293,141 2/1919 McGary ..110/9 1,160,360 11/1915 Atterbury et a1..- ..110/8 C 2,428,685 10/1947 Shepard ..4/250 [451 Aug. 15, 1972 United States Patent Patterson PATENTEDAUG 15 I972 SHEUZUFS' Le Roy Pal/arson WWW PAIENTEDAuc 15 Ian Q 3.683 425 sum 3 or 5 Le Roy Patterson INVENTOR.

BY ampzwqe 19 PATENTEDAUKISIBTZ 3.683.425

SHEET 5 BF 5 LeRoy Patterson 1x VENTQR.

BY WW 3% and more particularly to dry latrines or combustion operated disposal devices.

-With regard to portable toilets, it is a common procedure to store waste materials until it can be discharged into a holding tank for eventual discharge into a public sewage disposal system. Very often, such waste material is illegally discharged into rivers, alongside public highways, etc. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a portable type of toilet whereby disposal of waste material such as excreta is effected without pollution of water, land or atmosphere.

The objectives of the present invention are achieved by means of a unique arrangement of combustion receptacles which are cyclically advanced from an initial receiving position through incinerating and cooling stages. The combustion receptacles are pivotally suspended about horizontal axes on a carrier assembly which is angularly advanced in response to opening and closing of a cover lid for a toilet seat supported on the cabinet within which the receptacle carrier is enclosed together with an indexing mechanism for controlling cyclic operation. The receptacles are provided with openings aligned with the toilet seat and an inlet funnel disposed therebelow. The openings in the combustion receptacles are closed when the receptacles are in the incinerating and cooling positions. Further, the receptacles are in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold at one axial end during the incinerating stage so as to discharge combustion products through an exhaust flue. The receptacle openings are otherwise closed in the incinerating and cooling positions by the carrier assembly as a result of the gravitational positioning of the receptacles relative to the carrier assembly on which they are pivotally suspended. Thus, efficient and sanitary incineration of waste material is effected without atmospheric pollution.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portable combustion toilet constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the combustion toilet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in FIG. 1 with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIG. 4

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the indexing mechanism associated with the apparatus as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an indexing mechanism shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of the indexing mechanism shown in an initial start position.

FIGS. 10 and 1 l are front elevational views similar to FIG. 9 illustrating the indexing mechanism in intermediate phase positions.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the indexing mechanism in an actuated limit position.

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the indexing mechanism in a phase position intermediate the limit position and the start position respectively illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 9.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the receptacle carrier.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a combustion toilet generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The combustion toilet includes a cabinet 12 of any suitable shape and size enclosing the components of the apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, access to the cabinet may be had by removal of a front panel 14 or a rear panel 16. The top 18 of the cabinet is provided with an opening peripherally bordered by a conventional toilet seat 20. The toilet seat 20 as well as an associated cover lid 22 are pivotally mounted by a hinge assembly 24 on the top 18 of the cabinet. Extending upwardly from the top of the cabinet on one side of the toilet seat adjacent the rear panel 16, is an exhaust flue 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a pair of generally triangular frame assemblies 28 and 30 are respectively secured to the floor 32 of the cabinet adjacent the front and rear panels 14 and 16 respectively. The frame assemblies are provided at their upper ends with bearing plates 34 and 36 providing spaced journal support for a main shaft 38 to which a receptacle carrier assembly 40 is secured for rotation therewith within a cylindrical housing 42. The housing is fixedly supported within the cabinet between the end frame assemblies 28 and 30 by brackets 44 and 46 as more clearly seen in FIG. 4. Also mounted on the bracket 46 adjacent the front panel 14, is a conventional burner control box 48 to which a supply of combustion fuel such as butane is conducted from a suitable source (not shown). A burner pipe 50 extends from the burner control 48 upwardly and at an angle as more clearly seen in FIG. 4 terminating at a flame emitting end portion 52 operatively positioned relative to the receptacle carrier 40 as will be explained in further detail hereafter.

The top of the cabinet is provided with a downwardly extending funnel formation 54 as more clearly in FIG. 5 which projects into an inlet opening 56 formed in the cylindrical housing 42 in order to guide the deposit of excreta into one of three combustion receptacles 58 which are pivotally suspended on the receptacle carrier 40 about parallel horizontal axes. Each receptacle 58 is accordingly provided with a generally cylindrical wall 60 having an opening 62 which extends axially between circular end walls 64 and 66. The end walls are centrally connected to axially aligned pivots 68 and 70 received in bearing bushings 72 mounted by the front and rear end plates 74 and 76 of the receptacle carrier. The end plates are accordingly fixed to the main shaft 38 and mount the bearing bushings joumaling the receptacle pivots in equal angular spaced relationship to each other.

Each of the receptacles 58 has a forarninous grate 78 seated therein. Retainer rods 80 are welded to the end walls 64 and 66 of the receptacles in order to hold the grates 78 at the bottom of the receptacles in chordal relationship thereto as more clearly seen in FIG. 4. Waste material deposited into a receptacle 58 when in its upper receiving position will accordingly be received on the grate 78. When the loaded receptacle is angularly advanced from its uppermost position in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 to a burner position 120 away, a burner opening 82 in the end wall 64 will be aligned with the flame emitting end 52 of the burner tube 50 as more clearly seen in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, and 14, the receptacle carrier (shown in FIG. 14 with its end plate 74 removed) includes three equally angularly spaced tubular covers 84 which extend axially between the end plates and are fixed thereto. An axially extending opening is formed in each tubular cover between a leading flange 86 and a trailing flange 88 relative to the direction in which the receptacle carrier is angularly advanced. The tubular covers 84 are furthermore dimensioned so as to freely receive the receptacles 58 that are pivotally mounted between the end plates 74 and 76 of the carrier as aforementioned. It will therefore be apparent, that as the receptacle carrier is angularly advanced, the position of the receptacles will be gravitationally maintained because of the pivotal suspension of the receptacles. In view thereof, the tubular covers 84 will close the openings 62 to form combustion chambers in the receptacles in the two lower positions as shown in FIG. 4 corresponding to the burning and cooling positions. In the uppermost receiving position of the receptacle, its opening 62 will be aligned with the opening in the tubular cover 84 formed between the flanges 86 and 88.

The carrier 40 is also provided with three vent plates 90 which are fitted between adjacent tubular covers 84 adjacent the rear end plate 76 so as to form an exhaust manifold 92 in communication with the openings 62 in the receptacles when aligned with vent openings 94 formed in the tubular covers 84 adjacent the end plate 76. Thus, in the burner position of the receptacle, fluid communication is established between a vent box 96 and the receptacle at one axial end opposite the burner tube 50. The vent box 96 is positioned within the cabinet 12 at the rear upper comer underlying the exhaust flue 26 to which the vent box is connected as more clearly seen in FIG. 4. The housing 42 and exhaust manifolds 92 on the receptacle carrier accordingly project into the vent box 96 so that combustion products generated within each receptacle in the burner position, may escape to atmosphere. In the cooling position of the receptacle however, the manifold 90 and the receptacle are completely closed or sealed by the associated tubular cover 84.

The receptacle carrier is angularly advanced or indexed by 120 during each operational cycle by means of any suitable indexing control mechanism, generally referred to by reference numeral 98, in response to opening and closing of the cover lid 22. As more clearly seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the indexing control mechanism illustrated by way of example, is driven by means of a sprocket chain 100 entrained about a sprocket wheel 102. One end of the sprocket chain is connected to a tension spring 104 anchored to the top of the cabinet by a bracket 106 spaced from a bracket 108 on which a pair of idler pulleys 110 and 112 are rotatably mounted. A cable 114 connected to the opposite end of the sprocket chain is entrained about the idler pulleys and is connected to an activator arm 116 displaceable by the hinge shaft associated with the cover lid pivot 24. As a result of the foregoing drive arrangement, the tension spring 104 will be under minimum tension when the cover lid 22 is in its fully open position. The

indexing mechanism will then be in a ready start phase. When the cover lid 22 is displaced to its fully closed position, the indexing mechanism will advance the carrier and the spring 104 will then be under maxrmum tension.

As more clearly seen in FIGS. 6 through 9, the sprocket wheel 102 is freely rotatable on the main shafi 38 together with an activator collar 118 to which it is connected by means of a pin 120 as shown in FIG. 7. Also mounted on the sprocket wheel 102 for rotation therewith, is a position responsive switch assembly such as the mercury switch 121. Thus, the sprocket wheel 102 and activator collar 118 are rotatable relative to the main shaft 38 to which a ratchet wheel 122 is splined for rotation with the receptacle carrier also connected to the main shaft. The receptacle carrier, the shaft 38 and the ratchet wheel 122 are held in angular positions spaced apart 120, corresponding to the aforementioned operative positions of the receptacles, by means of a locking device 124 mounted on a plate 126 fixed to the frame assembly 30. The locking device includes a spring biased plunger 128 adapted to be received within angularly spaced notches 130 in the peripheral rim of the ratchet wheel. A release pin 132 is secured to the locking plunger 128 and projects through a slot formed in the housing of the locking device. Thus, the receptacle carrier may be released for angular advancement.

The activator collar 118 is provided with a carrier arm 134 on which a cam member 136 is pivotally mounted for spring biased engagement with a rest pin 138. A cam surface 139 is formed on the pivoted cam member so as to engage the release pin 132 of the locking device and retract the locking plunger when the carrier arm 134 of the activator collar 118 is angularly advanced from a start position as shown in FIG. 9 to an intermediate phase position as shown in FIG. 10. A control arm 140 also extends radially from the activator collar for engagement with a timer control arm 142 projecting from a conventional type of timer mechanism 144 mounted on the frame assembly 30 below the indexing mechanism. The timer arm 142 is held by the control am 140 in an off position as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, when the control arm 140 is angularly advanced from the position shown in FIG. 9, it releases the timer control arm 142 in order to initiate a timing cycle during which the timer control arm is angularly advanced to a limit position engaging a limit stop 146 as shown by dotted line in FIG. 9 terminating the timing cycle.

The hub portion 148 of the activator collar is also provided with a spring biased pin 150 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 6 and 10 adapted to engage lateral ratchet formations 152 on the ratchet wheel 122 upon retraction of the locking plunger 128 of the locking device. Thus, after initial angular displacement of the sprocket wheel 102 and activator collar 118 to-the position illustrated in FIG. 10, the activator collar pin 150 engages the ratchet wheel 122 so that upon continued rotation of the collar, the receptacle carrier will be angularly rotated by the shaft 38 as the indexing mechanism advances through the intermediate phase position shown in FIG. 1 1 to the limit position shown in FIG. 12 corresponding to the fully closed position of the toilet cover lid. When advancing to the position shown in FIG. 11, the release pin 132 of the locking device is disengaged by the cam member 136. The locking plunger will then be disposed between the peripheral notches on the ratchet wheel and will accordingly ride on the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel until it is once again aligned with the next locking notch 130 in the limit position shown in FIG. 12. In the limit position shown in FIG. 12, a circuit is completed by the mercury switch 121 in order to initiate operation of the burner. incinerating operation will accordingly ensue for the remainder of the timing cycle associated with the timer 144, the tinting cycle of which was previously initiated as aforementioned.

The indexing control mechanism is reset for another operating cycle by opening the cover lid. Upon opening of the cover lid, the spring 104 will angularly rotate the sprocket wheel 102 in the return direction or in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 13. During this return movement, the activator collar 118 ratchets relative to the ratchet wheel 122 which is then held locked by the locking device 124. The circuit controlled by the mercury switch 121 is then opened to terminate burner operation through the burner control box 48. The control arm 140 engages the timer control arm 142 so as to return it to the start position. The carrier arm 134 on the other hand carries the pivoted cam member 136 past the release pin 132 without retracting the locking device. The pivoted cam member 136 is accordingly displaced by the release pin against its spring bias into engagement with stop pin 154 as shown in FIG. 13. Thus, the indexing mechanism is returned to its initial position illustrated in FIG. 9 when the cover lid is fully opened in preparation for another operational cycle.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a device for disposal of waste material, a cabinet having an outlet, a carrier movably mounted within the cabinet, at least one receptacle enclosing a combustion chamber in one position of the carrier relative to the cabinet, said receptacle having an opening receiving said waste material, means movably mounting the receptacle on the carrier for closing said opening in response to displacement of the carrier toward said one position, incinerating means rendered operative in said one position of the carrier relative to the cabinet for burning the waste material within said combustion chamber, and means mounted by the carrier for establishing fluidcommunication between the outlet and the'combustion chamber in said one position of the carrier. 7

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacle mounting means includes pivotal suspension means maintaining the receptacle in a predetermined orientation relative to the carrier under the influence of gravity.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said carrier includes a cover member mounted in embracing relation to the receptacle to close the opening in said one position and indexing means for displacing the carrier between a receiving position and said one position substantially sealing the waste material within the receptacle.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fluid communication establishing means includes a vent manifold fixed to the carrier in axially spaced relation to the incinerating means.

5. The combination of claim 4 including receiving means mounted by the cabinet in alignment with the opening in the receptacle in said receiving position of the carrier, a cover lid pivotally mounted on the cabinet, and indexing control means responsive to displacement of the cover lid to a closed position overlying the receiving means for operating the indexing means.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said carrier includes a cover member mounted in embracing relation to the receptacle to close the opening in said one position and indexing means for displacing the carrier between a receiving position and said one position substantially sealing the waste material within the receptacle.

7. The combination of claim 6 including receiving means mounted by the cabinet in alignment with the opening in the receptacle in said receiving position of the carrier, a cover lid pivotally mounted on the cabinet, and indexing control means responsive to displacement of the cover lid to a closed position overlying the receiving means for operating the indexing means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fluid communication establishing means includes a vent manifold fixed to the carrier in axially spaced relation to the incinerating means.

9. In a device for treating waste material, a cabinet having an inlet and an exhaust outlet, a receptacle, a

carrier rotatably mounted within the cabinet, indexing means connected to the carrier for angular displacement thereof to a plurality of operative positions, means pivotally suspending the receptacle on the carrier for relative movement in response to said angular displacement of the carrier, said receptacle having an opening aligned with the inlet in one of the operative positions of the carrier and enclosing a combustion chamber in another of said operative positions, cover means fixedly mounted on the carrier for substantially sealing the receptacle in response to said angular displacement of the carrier toward said other of the operative positions, incinerating means mounted in the cabinet in operative relation to the combustion chamber of the receptacle in said other of the operative positions of the carrier, and vent means mounted on the carrier for establishing fluid communication between the outlet and the combustion chamber of the receptacle only in said other of the operative positions of the carrier. 

1. In a device for disposal of waste material, a cabinet having an outlet, a carrier movably mounted within the cabinet, at least one receptacle enclosing a combustion chamber in one position of the carrier relative to the cabinet, said receptacle having an opening receiving said waste material, means movably mounting the receptacle on the carrier for closing said opening in response to displacement of the carrier toward said one position, incinerating means rendered operative in said one position of the carrier relative to the cabinet for burning the waste material within said combustion chamber, and means mounted by the carrier for establishing fluid communication between the outlet and the combustion chamber in said one position of the carrier.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacle mounting means includes pivotal suspension means maintaining the receptacle in a predetermined orientation relative to the carrier under the influence of gravity.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said carrier includes a cover member mounted in embracing relation to the receptacle to close the opening in said one position and indexing means for displacing the carrier between a receiving position and said one position substantially sealing the waste material within the receptacle.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fluid communication establishing means includes a vent manifold fixed to the carrier in axially spaced relation to the incinerating means.
 5. The combination of claim 4 including receiving means mounted by the cabinet in alignment with the opening in the receptacle in said receiving position of the carrier, a cover lid pivotally mounted on the cabinet, and indexing control means responsive to displacement of the cover lid to a closed position overlying the receiving means for operating the indexing means.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said carrier includes a cover member mounted in embracing relation to the receptacle to close the opening in said one position and indexing means for displacing the carrier between a receiving position and said one position substantially sealing the waste material within the receptacle.
 7. The combination of claim 6 including receiving means mounted by the cabinet in alignment with the opening in the receptacle in said receiving position of the carrier, a cover lid pivotally mounted on the cabinet, and indexing control means responsive to displacement of the cover lid to a closed position overlying the receiving means for operating the indexing means.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fluid communication establishing means includes a vent manifold fixed to the carrier in axially spAced relation to the incinerating means.
 9. In a device for treating waste material, a cabinet having an inlet and an exhaust outlet, a receptacle, a carrier rotatably mounted within the cabinet, indexing means connected to the carrier for angular displacement thereof to a plurality of operative positions, means pivotally suspending the receptacle on the carrier for relative movement in response to said angular displacement of the carrier, said receptacle having an opening aligned with the inlet in one of the operative positions of the carrier and enclosing a combustion chamber in another of said operative positions, cover means fixedly mounted on the carrier for substantially sealing the receptacle in response to said angular displacement of the carrier toward said other of the operative positions, incinerating means mounted in the cabinet in operative relation to the combustion chamber of the receptacle in said other of the operative positions of the carrier, and vent means mounted on the carrier for establishing fluid communication between the outlet and the combustion chamber of the receptacle only in said other of the operative positions of the carrier. 